Albert F. Myers

Biography

Albert Myers made numerous contributions to the success of the B-2 program, most significantly in the areas of flight control, project engineering and flight test. Using his extensive knowledge of flight mechanics and digital control, he was able to overcome the challenges of making the tailless B-2 fly like a conventional airplane with superior capability to deliver weapons and maintain stealth properties.

Mr. Myers led the team that implemented a robust flight-control system that also enhanced the plane’s stealth characteristics. His introduction of a fully integrated fly-by-wire (computer-controlled flight) flight-control system was revolutionary, requiring integration with the propulsion, weapons and stealth systems. Mr. Myers also provided the leadership that allowed the redesigned aircraft to operate at low altitude and high speed, requiring a significant advancement in the state-of-the-art to provide a critical gust-load alleviation capability, in which the flight control system detects gusts and causes the flight-control computers to command the aircraft to pitch into the gust.

As vice president of test operations at Northrop in 1988, Mr. Myers ensured that the B-2 was ready for its first flight, overcoming the challenges of system qualification and flight readiness review of all tests related to the first flight. His leadership at Northrop Grumman contributed the company’s success in global defense systems with more than $30 billion in annual revenues. An IEEE member, Mr. Myers retired from Northrop Grumman in 2006 as corporate vice president of strategy and technology and is currently an independent consultant residing in La Habra Heights, California. [[Category:Aerospace engineering |Myers]] [[Category:Aerospace engineering ]]